Councilmanic Redistricting Commission
The Baltimore County Redistricting process began in March 2021 with the Council’s appointment of a five-member bipartisan Councilmanic Redistricting Commission. Established by Resolution 33-21, the Commission was formed to make recommendations on new boundaries for the seven Council districts following the 2020 Census.
The Commission held three public hearings in June 2021 and also utilized a dedicated Commission Redistricting email address in order to receive public input during this process. The Commission also held public meetings in April, July, August, and September 2021. During these public meetings, the Commission developed a recommended map on September 23, 2021 and voted to adopt that map on September 30, 2021. The Commission submitted its final recommendations to the County Council on October 6, 2021. This included a written report, a recommended map, and draft legislation.
2021 Commission Members
James Almon, Esq. – Mr. Almon is an Assistant County Attorney for Carroll County, MD. Mr. Almon received his law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law and served as Senior Legislative Advisor to Councilwoman Cathy Bevins from 2016 through 2019.
Robert E. Latshaw, Jr. – Mr. Latshaw owns and operates Latshaw Real Estate Group, which has been providing commercial real estate brokerage and management services in the Baltimore area for almost 50 years. Mr. Latshaw is Chairman of the Baltimore County Economic Development Commission and the Greater Baltimore Economic Forum. He also served on the last Redistricting Commission in 2011.
Sophia Montgomery – Ms. Montgomery is the Director of Sales for Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Baltimore North, and also serves as President of the Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is an organization which promotes economic opportunities for new businesses, while also supporting established businesses primarily in the eastern, waterfront areas of Baltimore County.
Samuel Neuberger, Esq. – Mr. Neuberger is a Director with Klein Enterprises, a real estate firm specializing in acquisitions, development, leasing and management of residential and commercial assets throughout the east coast of the U.S. Mr. Neuberger received his law degree from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.
Aaron Plymouth – Mr. Plymouth is a retired public school educator with 42 years of experience. He has had a long affiliation with the Stevenswood Improvement Association, Inc., and was most recently named President Emeritus after 27 years of service to the community. He is Chair of the Combined Communities Advocacy Council of Greater Randallstown, Inc., and is also Chair of the Baltimore County School Board Nominating Commission.
Final Report of the 2021 Councilmanic Redistricting
2021 Baltimore County Redistricting Manual
View Public Hearing Recordings
2021 Written Testimony Submitted to the Commission
Agendas
Minutes
2021 Council Action on Redistricting
Following the Commission’s October 6 report, the County Council reviewed the Commission’s recommendations and held a virtual public hearing on October 26, 2021 to hear public input on the Commission’s recommended redistricting map. Residents throughout the County expressed their views at Council Legislative Sessions, in town-halls, and through emails and phone calls to their Councilmembers. Councilmembers also reviewed the written submissions by the public and other organizations and stakeholder groups, which may be viewed here.
On December 20, 2021, the Council enacted Bill 103-21 (Ex. A and Ex. B) to revise the Council Districts. The redistricting plan as set forth in Bill 103-21 was, in part, informed by the recommendations of the 2021 Redistricting Commission and, in part, by testimony received at the Council’s public hearing on October 26, 2021 and the work session on Bill 103-21 on December 14, 2021.
VRA Lawsuit and 2022 Revised Plan
On December 21, 2021, a lawsuit was filed by the NAACP and others against the County in the United States District Court in Baltimore alleging that the Council’s Redistricting Plan, including the adopted map, violated the federal Voting Rights Act.
On January 19, 2022, the Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Preliminary Injunction seeking to enjoin the County from conducting future elections for County Council under the Plan adopted in Bill 103-21. Following a hearing on February 15, 2022, District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby issued an Opinion and Order on February 22, 2022 granting the Plaintiffs’ motion and directing the County “to adopt a redistricting map that … includes … an additional County District in which Black voters otherwise have an opportunity to elect a representative of their choice and that comports with the requirements of the Voting Rights Act, 52 U.S.C. § 10301, and any other relevant constitutional and statutory requirements, by March 8, 2022.
In compliance with the Court’s Order, the Council submitted a new Redistricting Plan on March 8, 2022, which included a new Redistricting map. On March 21, 2022, the Court held an evidentiary hearing on whether to accept the County’s new Redistricting Plan. Thereafter, in a Status Conference on March 24, 2022, the Court issued from the bench an Opinion and Order approving the County’s submitted map and directing the County Council to adopt the new Redistricting Plan, including the map. Accordingly, at an emergency session convened on March 24, 2022, the Council enacted the new Redistricting Plan with the passage of Bill 22-22 (Ex. A and Ex. B).
An interactive version of the 2022 revised map may be viewed here.